Polyamide containers of 2 2 4 and/or 2 4 4 tri-methyl hexamethylene diamine

ABSTRACT

A THERMOPLASTIC POLYAMIDE MOLDING COMPOSITION CAPABLE OF FORMING TRANSPARENT HOLLOW BLOW MOLDED OBJECTS AT FORMING TEMPERATURES IN THE RANGE OF 170 TO 230*C., COMPRISES: (A) AT LEAST 40 WEIGHT PERCENT OF AN AMOROPHOUS POLYAMIDE COMPOSED OF AN AROMATIC DICARBOXYLIC ACID, A TRIMETHYL HEXAMETHYLENE DIAMINE AND A NORMAL ALIPHATIC DIAMINE, THE NORMAL ALIPHATIC DIAMINE COMPRISEING UP TO 30 WIEGHT OF THE DIALMINES USED, AND (B) THE BALANCE, ASID FROM CUSTOMARY ADDITIVES OF A SECOND POLYAMIDE FORMED FROM A W-AMINO ACID OR W-LACTAM, OR FORMED FROM A ALIPHATIC DICARBOXYLIC ACID AND A NORMAL ALIPHATIC DIAMINE.

United States Patent US. Cl. 260857 TW 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A thermoplastic polyamide molding composition capable of forming transparent hollow blow molded objects at forming temperatures in the range of 170 to 230 C., comprises:

(a) at least 40 weight percent of an amorphous polyamide composed of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, a trimethyl hexamethylene diamine and a normal aliphatic diamine, the normal aliphatic diamine comprising up to 30 weight percent of the diamines used, and

(b) the balance, aside from customary additives, of

a second polyamide formed from a w-amino acid or w-lactam, or formed from an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and a normal aliphatic diamine.

PRIOR ART The hitherto known amorphous, thermoplastic polyamide molding compositions have been poorly suited for the manufacture of hollow objects by blow molding and often resulted in yellowed moldings susceptible to breakage. For many applications, particularly in the packaging sector, it is desired that containers manufactured from polyamides be clear and transparent, have a smooth and even surface, be capable of being heat-sealed, and exhibit a low gas permeability. In addition, they should be rigid, dimensionally stable and warp-free at elevated humidities, within a wide temperature range.

The amorphous polyamides (see US. 3,150,117) made of terephthalic acid and 2,2,4-trimethyl hexamethylene diamine and/or 2,4,4-trimethyl hexamethylene diamine are unsuitable for the aforementioned applications. They discolor upon extrusion and adhere to the die during blowing, and the containers manufactured therefrom display shrink holes. Such molding compositions tend also to swell upon being processed in blow machines.

Even the substituting of hexamethylene diamine for a part of the trirnethyl hexamethylene diamines (see US. 3,294,758) does not result in any substantial improvement of the properties of the polyamide molding batches.

In lieu of terephthalic acid or isophthalic acid one may use their diaryl or dialkyl esters with the above diamines to make the molding composition. Such a polymer can be blown into dimensionally stable and transparent moldings if the viscosity number of the molding batches (according to German Industrial Standards, DIN 35,727, in a 0.5 percent-by-weight solution in m-cresol at C.) shows values between 130 and 160. The drawback that manifests itself upon the blowing of these molding batches in this viscosity range is that their flowability is not particularly good at processing temperatures between 190 and 220 C.

Even a compounding of amorphous polyamides whose acid component is a dibasic aromatic dicarboxylic acid and whose amine components are either 2,2,4- and/or 2,4,4-trimethyl hexamethylene diamine or an unbranched aliphatic amine with 6 to 12 carbon atoms, with poly- Patented Feb. 29, 1972 amides of the nylon types does not yield any molding compositions suitable for blowing into hollow bodies with good mechanical properties at temperatures between 170 and 220 C. Even if the amorphous polyamide used have viscosity values between and 120, the molding compositions prepared from them exhibit a poor conversion efficiency and can be processed to blown bodies at high revolution speeds only. Moreover, hollow bodies manufactured therefrom are transparent only under certain conditions.

THIS INVENTION The above drawbacks can be obviated if, in the manufacture of blown objects, the thermoplastic polyamide molding composition used comprises:

(a) 40 to 99 parts by weight, preferably 60 to 99 parts by weight, of an amorphous polyamide of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and 2,2,4- and/or 2,4,4 trimethyl hexamethylene diamine and a straight chain or normal aliphatic diamine having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, with the diamine mixture consisting in the range of 70 to 99 weight percent of the trimethyl hexamethylene diamines and in the amount of 1 to 30 weight percent of the straight chain aliphatic diamine;

(b) 1 to 60 parts by weight, preferably 1 to 40 parts by weight of a polyamide of the nylon type based on w-amino acids or w-lactams, or based on aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and straight chained aliphatic diamines.

Granulated molding materials prepared from such polymers are particularly well suited for forming transparent hollow objects if the amorphous component has a viscosity in the range of 80 to (according to DIN 53,727 in a 0.5 percent by weight solution in m-cresol at 25 C.).

The finished molding composition preferably has a viscosity between 130 and 200 and is capable of being blown at temperatures between and 230 C.

The amorphous polyamides used are composed of monoand poly-nuclear acids such as terephthalic and isophthalic acid or 4,4'-diphenyl ether dicarboxylic acid. The use of mixtures of these acids is advantageous.

The normal aliphatic diamine component of the amorphous polyamide preferably contains between 3 to 12 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to 12 carbon atoms. Particularly suitable are hexamethylene diamine and nonamethylene diamine. Mixtures of the straight-chain aliphatic diamines can also be used.

The manufacture of the amorphous polyamides can be carried out using known processes customarily used for the manufacture of polyamides containing dicarboxylic acid and diamine radicals.

Thus, it is for instance possible to polycondense in aqueous, concentrated solution, the mixed salt of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and the diamine mixture first under pressure and then under reduced pressure at temperatures up to approximately 280 C., or to perform the same process without any prior isolation of the salt following dissolution of substantially equimolar amounts of the aromatic dicarboxylic acid and the diamine mixture in hot water. Moreover, it is possible to by-pass the pressure stage by means of pre-condensation of the salt in high-boiling solvents, for instance cresols, and to apply a vacuum in the final stage of the polycondensation.

The lower alkyl esters of the aromatic dicarboxylic acid can be reacted with substantially equimolar amounts of the diamine mixture in the presence of water accompanied by the separation of alcohol, and polycondense the reaction product like an aqueous salt solution. Instead of lower alkyl esters one may start out also from diaryl esters of the aromatic dicarboxylic acids and renounce in 4 this case the concomitant use of water. Finally, it is also Weight of 2,2,4-trimethyl hexamethylene diamine and 20 possible to react dihalides of aromatic dicarboxylic acids percent by weight of hexarnethylene diamine was procwith equimolar amounts of the diamine mixture in the essed to form a molding composition in accordance with presence of basic compounds using the process of the the conditions listed in Table l. The admixture of the solution condensation or that of the contact condensation. nylon amounts mentioned in the table relates to the The second component of the polyamide compound finished compound.

consists of partially crystallized or partially crystallizable Under the conditions set forth in Table 2, the resultant polyamides known under the generic term nylon. Such compounds were blown to form bottles of a capacity of polyamides are, for instance, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, nylon about 420 cc. The bottles were subjected to a drop test 6,10, nylon 11, and nylon 12. Also, suitable as the second to determine at which height of fall water-filled bottles polyamide component are the cocondensates obtained would break. The elevation in question was determined at from hexamethylene diamine/adipic acid/e-caprolactam which one haf of the bottles tested: g;f gfgi ggfiggigzgg gi ggggiat i caprolactam (a) break directly after being filled with water, and

The molding compositions according to this invention (b) break after Storage m Water for 24 hoursare prepared particularly advantageously as a melt. As a The test results can be found in Table 3 result of such a flux type compounding, uniform and homogeneous masses can be achieved within a short time. EXAMPLES In this connection it is recommended to masterbatch the pertinent components at room temperature in a rapk} The dian'nne IIllXtllIC USEd for the manufacture 0f the ly rotating mixer and to plasticize the resultant mixture amorphous Polyamide consisted in these tests 0f 0 in a standard compounding unit, for instance, in a twin- Percent y Weight of ,4- I In thyl hexarnethylene discrew extruder. The temperatures required for this puramine and 30 Pefcfint y Weight of hexamethylene pose are between 220 and 280 C, amine. The amorphous polyamide was prepared therefrom Compounding in a rapidly revolving vortex-type mixer in known manner by condensation with terephthalic acid is possible. In this case, one starts out preferably with as dimfithy] fistell It Was compounded Wlth nylon 6,6 fine as possible a powder granulated t i l f h ing to the conditions shown in Table l. The further proctwo polyarnides to b compounded, essing of the finished compound took place similar to that It is also possible to add to the molding batches accord- 0f Example ing to the invention the additives customarily used with 30 The 2,4,44rimethy1 heXamethylene diamine used n polyarnide molding materials such as dyestuffs, sun-ch kthe aforementioned examples for the manufacture of the ing agents or Ham-inhibiting agents. amorphous polyarnide can partly or in whole be re- EXAMPLES. EXAMPLES placed by 2,3,3-trrmethyl hexamethylene diamine. In this event, the processing temperatures remain the same and An amorphous polyamide having a viscosity value of hollow objects manufactured therefrom posses properties 110, prepared in known manner from terephthalic acid identical to those manufactured by using 2,2,4-trirnethyl dimethyl ester and a mixture consisting of 30 percent by hexamethylene diamine by itself.

TABLE 1 [Processing conditions for the preparation of the melt compound] Vis- Cylinder temperatures 0.) cos- Examples ity Type of machine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R.p.m.

1. Terephthallc acid dimethyl ester and percent by Extruder R fit],

weight 2,2,4- and/or 2,4,i-trimethyl hexamothylone dia- Reifenhauser; mine and 20 percent by weight hexamethylene diamine Screw 20 D; Comp.

plus

(a) 20%lwt. Nylon 6 220 240 260 260 240 230 230 14 (b) 40%/wt. Nylon 6, 10. 200 220 245 254 230 225 225 12 (e) 5%/Wl5. Nylon 11 220 240 255 245 245 230 225 14 2. Terephthallc acid dimethyl ester and 70 percent by do weight 2,2,4- andlor 2,4A-trimethyl hexamethylene dianzliine and 30 percent by weight hexamethylene diamine P (a) 10%Iwt. Nylon 6.6 240 270 270 265 240 235 220 12 (b) 5%lwt. Nylon 12 230 245 255 255 255 240 230 16 TABLE 2 [Processing conditions for the manufacture of bottles having a capacity of 420 cc. on the blowing apparatus (Bukum, Type E 50)] Cylinder tz-mperatures Blowing Die time Duration Ejection Current Composition Rpm. 1 2 3 4 temp. tsecs.) (secs) (secs) consumption 1. Terephthalic acid dimethyl ester and 80 percent by weight 2,2,4- and/or 2,4,4,-trimethyl hexamethylene dianiine and 20 percent by Weight hexamethylene diamine us- (a) 20%/W1;. Nylon 6 24 200 210 180 7 ti (1 6. (b) 40%lwt. Nylon 6, 10 M 175 190 200 200 7 6 ti 7 (c) 5%,lwt. Nylon 11 18 180 200 210 200 200 7 6 (i 6. 2. Terephthalie acid dimethyl ester and 70 prcent by weight 224- and/or 2,4.4-trimethyl hexamethylene dianiine and 30 percent by weight hexamctllylonc diamino p us- (a) 10%]wt. Nylon 6.6 El 170 200 210 1W 1W 7 ti 5 6.8 (b) 5%lwt. Nylon 6 its 1250 200 200 M0 210 7 o 5 ii ti TABLE 3 3. The composition of claim 2 wherein said amorphous Drop Test: Drop height in m. at 50% breakage polyamlde 1S pqlycopdensate of Bottle Capacity: 420 c .number of bottles tested=50 (a) terephthalic acid, and Flned Wth: M6520 (b) a mixture of 80 percent by Weight of 2,2,4- and/ B m hDrrli g D or 2,4,4-trimethy1 hexamethylene diamine and 20 0 e eigi rop Blown bodies made of terephthalic acid Weight (direct) height in percent by Welght of hfifamethylene dlamme' dimethyl ester and (g.) (m.) meters 1 4. A transparent hollow ob ect formed at a temperature 1. 80 percent by Weight of 2,2,4- and/0r In range 9 to 230 C' b w moldmg a com- 2,4,4-trimethylhexamethylene diamine position consisting of a polyamide mixture as the only :32 g ggg ggl hexamethyl' polymeric component thereof having a composition of:

(a) 2;)%/wt.Nylon6 19 S (a) 40 to 99 parts by weight of an amorphous poly- Eg 2% gfgg ffg s 1 amide composed of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and 2. 72 4preenhb1yhWe1ghtth0f1 2, dm 2,2,4- and/or 2,4,4-trimethyl hexamethylene diamine, a gi i i lg fifi g whelrleilnhabout 1htc1 30 percent by Weight of this trici ene mine p 115- met x t n i v a 10 Nylon 6.6 1945 1rd 2.1 b y e we Y 9 g? i f; f??? 00) 5%lwtNylonfi M 1 g y a normal straig t c aine unsu s itute a 1p atic diamine; and

(b) 1 to 60 parts by weight of a scond crystallizable formed from a w-amino acid or a w-lactam, or formed from an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and a normal straight chained unsubstituted aliphatic diamine.

1 At 50% breakage after 24 hrs. storage in Water.

What is claimed is: 1. A thermoplastic, transparent polyamide molding composition comprising:

(a) 40 to 99 parts by weight of an amorphous polyamide composed of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid References Cited and 2,2,4- and/or 2,4,4-trimethy1 hexamethylene di- UNITED STATES PATENTS amine, wherein about 1 to 30 percent by weight of 25 the trimethyl hexamethylene diamines have been regi laced b a normal strai ht chained unsubstituted alilpr 1am ghafic diyamine. and 3,457,325 7/1969 Anton 260-857 (b) 1 to 60 parts by weight of a crystallizable polyamide formed from a w-amino acid or a w-lactam, FOREIGN T P or formed from an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and a 919,096 2/1963 Great Bfltaln 260%78 lt'hth'd bt'ttd l'ht'd'- C ame unsu glue am 1 PAUL LIEBERMAN, Primary Examiner 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said polyamide U 5 c1 X R (a) comprises in the range of 60 to 99 parts by weight 260 78 R of said mixture and said second polyamide (b) comprises in the range of 1 to 40 parts by weight thereof. 

